KINGSTON, N.Y. -- City police on Thursday were inching closer to finding and questioning a person of "high interest" in connection with the homicide of a Kingston woman, a department official said.

"We're on this person's trail," said Detective Lt. Thierry Croizer. "We're trying to locate that individual, and we're being assisted by numerous other agencies."

Police want to interview the person, whose name and gender have not been provided, in the killing of Anita Jacobs-Royer, 45.

Jacobs-Royer was found dead Sunday afternoon in her home at 56 Third Ave. in Kingston by police who went to check on her at the request of a family member.

Croizer said Jacobs-Royer had been dead "a day, possibly more" when she was found and that police aren't ruling out anyone as a suspect at this point.

"Until we have a full confession, we're just keeping an open mind about the investigation, but we do have a person of interest that we're seeking," he said.

Jacobs-Royer's death initially was classified as "suspicious," but after autopsy results came back, Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright on Tuesday said the case was being investigated as a homicide.

Authorities, however, have declined to say how Jacobs-Royer died.

On Monday afternoon, police sought the public's help in locating Jacobs-Royer's missing 1998 Isuzu Trooper, but the vehicle later was found in the town of Ulster.

Croizer on Thursday would not say who might have taken the vehicle or how it ended up in Ulster.

"We have an idea of how it got there, but we can't say for sure until we locate the individual to ask them about it," he said. "It wasn't where the victim had left it.

"I assume her car would have been at her home with her, and it was found at an unusual location," Croizer said.

Asked whether the person police are seeking is believed to have taken the vehicle, Croizer said: "It might be."

The detective lieutenant said Jacobs-Royer's body has been released to her family. Funeral arrangements had not been announced on Thursday.

Croizer said he understands people want to know more details about the case but he stressed that releasing too many specifics could jeopardize the investigation.

"We have to make sure that the person is brought to justice and that the family has resolution and to know that the person responsible for this horrible act has been put away," he said.